The “Tradition of the Masks,” the third annual “Africa in the Ozarks” celebration, will take place in Eureka Springs July 5-8. Festival organizer and city policeman, Kouakou Yao (aka Yao Angelo), originated the event as a way to “show the people of my new country the energy and beauty of the culture of my homeland.”
Angelo emigrated to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast, West Africa, ten years ago. Each of the past three years he has brought talented countrymen from his homeland to the Ozarks for the event.
This year’s festival includes mask-making workshops and performances, drum workshops, dance workshops, an African dinner, and performances by Angelo’s band, “Ozakwaba.” The event will be held at the City Auditorium, the Gem (lower level of the Auditorium) and outdoors at Basin Park.
“Africa in the Ozarks” kicks off with a mask-making workshop Thursday, July 5 at 10 am in Basin Park. Master teachers from the Ivory Coast and the U.S., with experience including a residency at Yale Repertory Theater and involvement with a project at the Kennedy Center, will lead the class. They will also lead drum workshops (2:30 pm, July 5; 10 am, July 6 and 7; and 11 am July 8) and dance workshops (3:45 pm, July 5; 3 pm July 6 and 7; 11:15 am, July 7; and 11 am, July 8. All these adult classes will be held in the Gem.
Children will be given an opportunity to learn African dance for free at 2 pm July 6 and 7 in Basin Park. These classes will follow a free dance demonstration in the park open to all ages.
The African dinner “is a great way for people to get a taste of our fine West African cuisine,” according to Angelo. The dinner is set for 6:30 pm, July 5 at the Gem.
Drummers Gore E. Bilibi, Senie Sylla, Angelo and others will join members of the Afrique Aya Dancers for two high-energy shows July 6 and 7 at 7 pm in the Auditorium. These performances have been termed “spiritual experiences” by some past attendees. Angelo’s Afro-pop band, Ozakwaba, will do shows in the Gem following each Auditorium show.